A Million Things by Emily Spurr

☆☆☆☆☆
.PDF, 199 pages
Expected publication: March 30th 2021 by Text Publishing

About the Book:
Rae is ten years old, and she’s tough. She’s had to be: life with her mother has taught her the world is not her friend. Now suddenly her mum is gone and Rae is alone, except for her dog Splinter. Rae can do a lot of things pretty well for a kid. She can take care of herself and Splints, stay under the radar at school and keep the front yard neat enough that the neighbours won’t get curious. But she is gnawed at by fear and sadness; haunted by the shadow of a terrible secret. Lettie, who lives next door, might know more about Rae than she lets on. But she has her own reasons for keeping the world at arm’s length. When Rae finds out what they are, it seems like she and Lettie could help each other. But how long can a friendship last when it’s based on secrets?

My Review:

This book ticked all the boxes for me and I didn't expect it to be so great considering it was from a 9 year old's point of view but that made it all the better. This unique perspective provides this story with a fresh curiosity right from the start. Spurr introduces the reader to a lot of inner dialogue, then slowly branches out, peeling away the layers of the background. This style mirrors the book's setting, another amazing literary device, and once the stakes are introduced, any reader will have a hard time putting the book down.

A new empathy sprouted inside of me from reading this piece, and I will never look at mental health issues, and they way it effects our loved ones, the same way again. I thought the story played out realistically, and while the plot line ended up being more about the emotional and psychological ramifications, I still clung to every sensory detail.

I recommend this book for anybody who is looking to read a heartwarming story about a young girl, and her older friend, who are determined to make everything as normal as possible in a not-so-normal world. An incredible story of the triumph of the human spirit in the worst of circumstances. All. The. Stars.

Disclosure:
Thank you NetGalley, the very talented Emily Spurr and Text Publishing for the honour and opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.

#AMillionThings #NetGalley